Sergio Perez appeared set to claim Cadillac's first Formula 1 point at the Monaco Grand Prix, crossing the line in tenth place before a post‑race infringement erased the result and relegated him to 15th. The penalty stemmed from a start‑grid violation where his front‑right wheel was judged to have been outside the allocated box.
Cadillac entered the championship as the first completely new constructor in a decade, and the early rounds proved challenging. In Melbourne the pair of cars finished at the back, with Bottas retiring and Perez three laps down. Similar gaps persisted in China, while Suzuka saw Perez finally on the lead lap. Qualifying has also improved; in Monaco Perez was only 1.5 seconds off the fastest Q1 time, a stark contrast to the three‑second deficit recorded in Australia. These gains reflect the team's data gathering and incremental upgrades.
Monaco's chaotic race, marked by retirements of Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc and others, opened a rare window for midfield teams. Perez climbed steadily, overtaking Alonso and benefiting from penalties handed to rivals, before the stewards' review nullified his effort. Team principal Graeme Lowdon praised the drive, noting that the ability to run with the midfield now signals a realistic path toward future points, provided Cadillac continues its development while rivals also push forward.
.webp)
